The Companion

Home ¦ Index ¦ FAQ ¦ Encyclopaedia ¦ Timeline ¦ Songs ¦ Gallery ¦ E-mail

Other CDs Index

Recording from the FM concert broadcast on 20th October 1972 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Los Angeles.

Tracks: Intro. / Hang Onto Yourself / Ziggy Stardust / Changes / The Supermen / Life on Mars? / Five Years / Space Oddity / Andy Warhol / My Death / The Width Of A Circle / Queen Bitch / Moonage Daydream / John, I'm Only Dancing / Waiting For The Man  / The Jean Genie / Suffragette City / Rock n Roll Suicide

Note: The traditional "Ode to Joy" (Beethoven's 9^th Symphony - Alla Marcia) which began the Ziggy concerts and found on Santa Monica FM concert bootlegs were not included in this official release as Sony has rights to that particular version.

Time: 76.39

Long-time a famous high quality bootleg, SANTA MONICA '72 was officially released by MainMan in the UK (through Trident Music International) on 25 April 1994 and reached #74 on the UK chart. In the US, SANTA MONICA '72 was released through Griffin Music on 14 March 1995.  While an official release, rumour has it that Griffin were legally forced to stop release of their products in the US by Rykodisc and half of the stock was recalled/destroyed.  Hence, the Griffin SANTA MONICA '72 items, especially the limited edition stock, is a lot rarer than originally intended.

Griffin Santa Monica '72 Press Kit Notes

The first title to be released on Griffin Music, in association with Trident Music and MainMan, will be David Bowie "Santa Monica '72".  The tentative release date is scheduled for February 28, 1995 for North America only. In 1972, after completing a successful tour in the UK, David Bowie set out on his first US tour.  Shocking and delighting people worldwide with his Ziggy Stardust persona, Bowie was now reaching the pinnacle of fame. On October 20, 1972 David Bowie and the Spiders From Mars played the Santa Monica Civic Hall. This concert was broadcast over the FM airwaves and has since been considered one of the most popular bootleg recordings ever.  Trident Music saved this recording from the vaults, digitally remastered it and has made "Santa Monica '72" an official release.  Griffin Music brings this recording to you as it happened, no overdubs and plenty of on-stage banter between the band and audience.  The set list is compiled primarily from the "Hunky Dory" and "Ziggy Stardust" albums, and contains two cover tracks, the Velvet Underground's "Waiting for the Man" and Jacques Brel's "My Death".  Complete with rare photos and memorabilia, this Bowie title is an essential addition to fan's and collector's libraries.  "Santa Monica '72" is definitely one of the most exciting and important live recordings to date.

"...certainly one of the most important archive releases of the year." - Record Collector

"This is the sound of Bowie at his most original and exciting.  Essential stuff." - Select

"This is the best live album ever recorded.   Own it or suffer in purgatory for all time." - Melody Maker

Goldmine Magazine full-page advertisement 17 March 1995

"...David Bowie's classic concert broadcast with The Spiders From Mars....is finally available as SANTA MONICA '72. And you need it at least for the 10-minute wig out on "The Width of a Circle," a fat slice of the late Mick Ronson in his glitter blitzkrieg-guitar prime..." Rolling Stone (1995)

Three track CD Single promo for SANTA MONICA '72.
Trident Music International (GY-CDS-002) 1994
Tracks: Ziggy Stardust / Waiting For The Man / The Jean Genie

Time: 13:15

Three track CD Single promo for SANTA MONICA '72.
DeadQuick Music / Griffin (GCD-382-2) 1995
Tracks: Ziggy Stardust / Waiting For The Man / The Jean Genie

Time: 13:15

Trident Music International (GY 002) April 1994. Highest UK chart = #74

DeadQuick Music / Griffin (GCD-392-2) 1995.

 

Box cover and book cover

Limited Edition Santa Monica '72 Box - Published by Vinyl Experience Ltd. (GY BOX 002). 1,000 copies only.  Titled Live at Santa Monica Civic Hall '72 this 12" sized box set contains a 72-page photo book called "Ziggy" with text by Kevin Cann, an exclusive black and red Mainman t-shirt on export copies only, and an optional CD of David Bowie with raised acoustic guitar Griffin (GY 002) but without ticket shown on CD face.

Continued on next page

---This page last modified: 13 Dec 2018---